Anyone receive chemo thru Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI)?

Darryl2010
Darryl2010 Member Posts: 15
in Liver Cancer #1
I'm a primary liver cancer patient diagnosed in May 2010. My right lobe - and the 19cm tumor sitting atop it - were resected in Aug. 2010 and since Nov, of 2010 we have been fighting the mets that were then discovered. One lesion has grown to 10.4cm since then, even after these regimens (all of which failed):
  • Nexavar
  • Avastin + Tarceva, Phase II Clinical Trial
  • EMD 1204831, Phase I Clinical Trial(drug from a German company)
  • Sutent + Valproic Acid, Phase I Clinical Trial
My team is now recommending a new phase I clinical trial that delivers the drug Irinotecan via HAI plus Avastin via a normal infusion, both twice during each 28 day cycle. I wasn't too keen on this new trial at first, but my insurance company's nurse/case manager (who I think a lot of) was very enthusiastic about this trial, especially its HAI delivery method.

Has anyone out there either gone thru HAI or have any experience with Irinotecan? I'd appreciate any feedback, if so.

Comments

  • njoc
    njoc Member Posts: 3
    #2
    Hepatic Arterial Infusion
    Hi Darryl,
    Is this the same as Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy? I was just informed about this as an option yesterday, and struggle to find much information. My oncologist at Univ. of Miami did not provide much info. but discussed it as an option. I have been on nexavar since last August and have had 2 Y90 procedures (right lobe, then left lobe). Largest tumor (15.x cms.) in right lobe appears to be shrinking, but other tumors throughout have increased and some increased in size. Dr. took me off the nexavar as he says it isn't working and suggests options:
    1) Intra-arterial chemotherapy 1x / month
    2) Systemic IV chemo
    3) Sandostatin injections 1x/month
    He did not address the specific chemotherapy agents, and advised me to see my local oncologist (I live in Ft. Lauderdale) and weigh options.

    Can you tell me anymore about it?
  • njoc
    njoc Member Posts: 3
    #3
    Hepatic Arterial Infusion
    Hi Darryl,
    Is this the same as Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy? I was just informed about this as an option yesterday, and struggle to find much information. My oncologist at Univ. of Miami did not provide much info. but discussed it as an option. I have been on nexavar since last August and have had 2 Y90 procedures (right lobe, then left lobe). Largest tumor (15.x cms.) in right lobe appears to be shrinking, but other tumors throughout have increased and some increased in size. Dr. took me off the nexavar as he says it isn't working and suggests options:
    1) Intra-arterial chemotherapy 1x / month
    2) Systemic IV chemo
    3) Sandostatin injections 1x/month
    He did not address the specific chemotherapy agents, and advised me to see my local oncologist (I live in Ft. Lauderdale) and weigh options.

    Can you tell me anymore about it?
  • Darryl2010
    Darryl2010 Member Posts: 15
    #4
    njoc said:

    Hepatic Arterial Infusion
    Hi Darryl,
    Is this the same as Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy? I was just informed about this as an option yesterday, and struggle to find much information. My oncologist at Univ. of Miami did not provide much info. but discussed it as an option. I have been on nexavar since last August and have had 2 Y90 procedures (right lobe, then left lobe). Largest tumor (15.x cms.) in right lobe appears to be shrinking, but other tumors throughout have increased and some increased in size. Dr. took me off the nexavar as he says it isn't working and suggests options:
    1) Intra-arterial chemotherapy 1x / month
    2) Systemic IV chemo
    3) Sandostatin injections 1x/month
    He did not address the specific chemotherapy agents, and advised me to see my local oncologist (I live in Ft. Lauderdale) and weigh options.

    Can you tell me anymore about it?

    Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy
    Hi njoc,
    I found some info about IAC at this web address:
    Liver Cancer Treatment: Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy

    I don't know if it is exactly the same as HAI, but their descriptions sound very similiar. Remember that what we are discussing is a delivery method and not a drug. While this delivery method is encouraging because it places the chemo agent directly into the liver, we still need a chemo drug thyat is going to kill cancer.

    Your #2 is a viable treatment, again, dependant on what the drug is and whether or not it will be successful.

    Your #3 is new to me and after looking it up on the web (drugs.com and chemocare.com), I would want to know more about it from the oncologist, and just what is hoped to be acomplished with it.

    I'm in FL also, in Melbourne. If you want to ask me anything, use this email address cause I don't visit these sites on a regular basis.
    darryl_vannucci@yahoo.com

    I wish you the best of luck in your treatment. Perhaps the new year will bring us a cure - one can only pray.
    Regards,
    Darryl

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